The Ultimate Night Out Makeup Hack for Oily Skin

August 31, 2018

Summer parties might be winding down, but that doesn’t mean we stop going out – right?

Whether it’s a girls’ night out or just people whipping out their phones every time two or more people get together, most of us would rather our makeup stay put all night long.

This can be a massive challenge for anyone, and even more difficult for those of us with oily skin. Lucky women with normal-to-dry skin can use highlighting powders and shimmery creams without a care in the world. Meanwhile, the rest of us with oily skin spend half the night in the toilet with blotting papers, compacts and powders, trying to keep it all together with minimum grease.

If you’ve already accepted that you’ll always look like an oil slick in party pictures, think again. Here’s how you can stay matte and fresh all night long, using products you probably already have.

How to Do It

Start with clean, moisturised skin. Getting ready after work and don’t have time to wash your face and start all over again? Just clear surface oil off with a tissue and begin there.

This process is somewhat back-to-front, so it might look like we’ve got it wrong. But trust us, this way works!

Continue reverse-engineering your look by powdering only your T-zone. Bourjois Air Mat Compact Powder is a fab option and you can chuck it in your bag if you want the security blanket of carrying powder with you on your night out. (But you won’t need it!)

Liquid foundation goes on next, ideally buffed in with a Real Techniques Foundation Brush or damp (not wet!) Beautyblender Blotterazzi. Here’s where Estée Lauder really shines (well, not literally). Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup is an industry favorite for shine-prone faces, and the brand’s Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 is superb if you have any dehydration. Annoyingly, you can be oily and dehydrated. You know those little bits of flaky skin that many foundations cling to, making them more obvious? The Water Fresh variety of EL’s foundation won’t grab onto those at all. Both options are fantastic for a lit-from-within radiance that won’t look waxy.

Is your Beautyblender still damp (again, NOT wet)? Use the round end to firmly push your makeup into the skin so that it really adheres, following with another light dusting of powder.

Then, give your face another, final coat of setting spray.

Once you’ve got your stay-put base in place, you can do your eyes, blush, and lipstick. At the end of the night, your face will still be flawlessly shine-free.

Really, that’s it! All the product recommendations above are just suggestions – you can use what you already have if you love the products. Try it out and let us know how you get on. Follow our directions and we promise your mind will be blown!

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